North Carolina's 25-Time Gold Medal-Winning Dance Troupe
About
The Hi-Steppers, are a dedicated dance performance troupe of local senior citizens, who provide year-round entertainment and classes in the community. Under the supervision of their founder, Annette Crumpton, The Hi-Steppers began kicking up their heels in 1983, dazzling audiences across the Carolinas and later appearing as special guests at events around the country.
The Hi-Steppers Today
Today, The Hi-Steppers have grown into a dance performance troupe ranging in ages from 61-88 years young. Half of the ladies were recruited recently by members that have danced with the troupe for over 10 years. Their dance repertoire is a collection of routines that were choreographed by guest choreographers and their late founder, Annette Crumpton, that have been passed down through the years by fellow Hi-Steppers as well as newly choreographed routines by Tina Leak, a former Radio City Rockette, who is the current Director of The Hi-Steppers.
What started as a one hour a week class has now grown into several hours and two to three days a week of classes and rehearsals. Their routines include Rockette pattern formations, traditional Broadway style tap, rhythm tap and jazzy styles of favorite Hollywood movies. Each member brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the group, helping with community outreach opportunities, performance bookings, teaching repertoire collections, compiling Hi-Stepper archives, video taping classes and rehearsals, communications, scheduling, costume sewing, shopping and searching for costume pieces, crafting hats and headpieces as well as organizing birthday celebrations, donation drives for non-profit organizations, lunches and movie nights.
Like the Rockettes, The Hi-Steppers are a true Sisterhood.
Classes & Workshops
Since 1987, The Hi-Steppers have enjoyed weekly classes at the New Hanover County Senior Center in Wilmington, NC. Over the years, instructors and guest teachers included Annette Crumpton, Carolyn Crumpton, Mary Beth Henderson, Sammi Winter, Crystal Cammack and
Tracy Varga. Dance Captains and classroom leaders have also included Hi-Steppers Juliana Morgan, Elena Geonie, Judy Kelley and Nancy Faye Craig. In July 2023, Tina Leak began leading the Hi-Steppers’ weekly classes and rehearsals. Since then, the troupe has grown to include dancers from surrounding cities such as Southport, Holden Beach and Leland, with special workshops and extra rehearsals also being held in those cities.
During months leading up to community outreach performances or competitions, The Hi- Steppers rehearse together for approximately four to five hours per week plus additional at home practice time.
You don’t stop playing because you get old; you get old because you stop playing.
Special Performances
The Hi-Steppers love to perform at special events, festivals and assisted living communities. Select credits & appearances include: The 2003 Ms Senior America Pageant in Reno, Nevada, and 2004 Ms Senior America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada; Ms NC Senior America Pageant in Wilmington, NC; The 50th & 75th Anniversary Celebration of the USS North Carolina relocation to Wilmington, NC; The 19th Annual ARTS SENSATION! at Historic Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts; numerous North Carolina Azalea Festival ceremonies for Queen Azalea; The 2025 Annual Forget-Me-Knot Luncheon for people recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, held at the Cameron Art Museum. The Hi-Steppers were also on the cover of an award winning greeting card for Bonair Daydreams.
Outreach
Hi-Stepper founder Annette Crumpton’s passion to “give forward”, prompted her to create touring variety shows so The Hi-Steppers could take their entertainment on the road to local nursing homes around the Port City. Four decades later, The Hi-Steppers continue to keep Annette’s legacy alive, touring between four and five Assisted Living and Senior Living Communities every year in Wilmington, Southport, Porter’s Neck and Leland as well as participating in many special events for the aging. To this day, some of the dance troupe’s repertoire continues to include Annette’s award-winning choreography. Select credits & appearances include: The 2025 Annual Forget-Me-Knot Luncheon for people recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, held at the Cameron Art Museum. Shows at: Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall, Porters Neck Village, Liberty Senior Living, Davis Community, Brightmore of Wilmington, Trinity Landing, In 2025, The Hi-Steppers performed two tap routines and taught a seated tap class, for the PBS Caregiver Advocacy Documentary on caregivers and loved ones with memory impairment.
You don’t stop playing because you get old; you get old because you stop playing.
Select Awards
2025 “BIG TIME”
Brunswick County Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Christy DeFrance, Elena Geonie, Felice Zeldin, Joanne Townsend, Judy Kelley, Karen Anderson, Lesly Miller, Nancy Faye Craig, Sandy Ettinger, Sharon Binis, Teri Dixon, Vicki Dunkerley
2024 “FANCY”
Brunswick County Senior Silver Arts Follies - Silver Medal Winners
Christy DeFrance, Elena Geonie, Felice Zeldin, Joanne Townsend, Judy Kelley, Karen Anderson, Lesly Miller, Nancy Faye Craig, Sandy Ettinger, Sharon Binis, Teri Dixon, Vicki Dunkerley
2022 “LOVE”
Brunswick County Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Karen Anderson, Joanne Townsend, Elena Geonie, Nancy Faye Craig, Christy DeFrance, Judy Kelley, Juliana Morgan, Felice Zeldin
2019 “FUN, FUN, FUN”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Silver Medal Winners
Karen Anderson, Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Elena Geonie, Shirley Heusel, Dianne Kishpaugh, Judy Kelley, Pam McLendon, Juliana Morgan
2018 “ON BROADWAY”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Shirley Heusel, Pam McLendon,
Juliana Morgan, Dianne Kishpaugh
2017 “MOTOWN”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Bronze Medal Winners
Karen Anderson, Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Shirley Heusel, Pam McLendon, Juliana Morgan, Dianne Kishpaugh
2015 “PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Karen Anderson, Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Shirley Heusel, Pam McLendon, Juliana Morgan, Dianne Kishpaugh
2013 “CHAPLIN’S FUN”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Virgina Kelley, Suzanne Nystrom, Jennifer Terry-Baker
2012 “ZIP GUN”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Silver Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Virgina Kelley, Suzanne Nystrom, Jennifer Terry-Baker
Brunswick County Silver Arts Follies Gold Medal Solo Dance Winner - Nancy Faye Craig
NC State Senior Silver Arts Follies Gold Medal Solo Dance Winner - Nancy Faye Craig
2010 “JOY”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Bronze Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Shirley Heusel, Virgina Kelley, Pam McLendon, Suzanne Nystrom, Jennifer Terry-Baker
2009 “WE’RE IN THE MONEY”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Virgina Kelley, Suzanne Nystrom, Jennifer Terry-Baker, Shirley Heusel, Pam McLendon, Juliana Morgan, Dianne Kishpaugh
2008 “MAMA, I’M A BIG GIRL NOW”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Silver Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Pamela Brown, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Virginia Kelley, Suzanne Nystrom, Jennifer Terry-Baker
2007 Solo Dance Winners
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winner, Nancy Faye Craig
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Silver Medal Winner, Judy Virginia Kelley
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winner, Nancy Faye Craig
2006 “PENNSYLVANIA 65000”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Carol Bigwood, Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Virgina Kelley, Suzanne Nystrom, Jennifer Terry-Baker
2004 “BLACK BIRD”
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winners
Nancy Faye Craig, Annette Crumpton, Dianne Kishpaugh, Pam McLendon, Suzanne Nystrom
2002 Solo Dance Winner
Senior Games by the Sea, Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winner, Nancy Faye Craig
North Carolina State Senior Silver Arts Follies - Gold Medal Winner, Nancy Faye Craig
Age is simply the number of years the world has been enjoying you.
Leadership
Annette Crumpton, Founder
November 2, 1941 – May 14, 2024
Annette was very proud of her work founding The Hi-Steppers in 1983 and establishing the NC Senior Games in Wilmington and the NC Senior SilverArts Follies. Over the years, The Hi- Steppers competed in and won several SilverArts Follies competitions. Annette danced with the company for many years. She was also very proud of her work as the Director of the New Hanover County Department of Aging for 25 years until her retirement in 2009. Prior to founding the Hi-Steppers: She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Texas Christian University. She taught dance classes in the New Hanover County public school system and with backing from the city's recreation department, she taught dance to many special needs children and senior adults in the five Wilmington Housing Authority Centers. In addition to all that, Annette also choreographed productions for the Wilmington Children’s Theatre, Kicks and Company children’s group, the Curtain Call Company, the Thalian Association Community Theatre non-profit organization and numerous other local groups in the Wilmington area. She was one of the co-founders of the Wilmington Civic Ballet Company and performed numerous times with the company at the historic Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. She taught dance classes for many years at the School of the Wilmington Civic Ballet and the Community Arts Center, now the Hannah Block USO Community Arts Center, in downtown Wilmington.
Because of Annette’s passion to “give forward”, she created touring variety shows so The Hi- Steppers could take entertainment to local nursing homes around the Port City. Four decades later, The Hi-Steppers continue to keep Annette’s legacy alive, touring between four and five Assisted Living and Senior Living Communities every year in Wilmington, Southport, Porter’s Neck and Leland. To this day, some of the dance troupe’s repertoire continues to include Annette’s award-winning choreography.
Tina Leak, Director
Present
Tina Leak began her 22 year show business career as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette & completed it as a backup dancer for PINK. She has performed all over the Untied States and in 14 countries working with such notables as Maurice & Gregory Hines, Ben Vereen, Mercedes Ellington, Gregg Burge, Judith Jamison, Jennifer Holiday, Gloria Estephan, David Cassidy, Randy Skinner and Muhammad Ali. She was a member of both the national and international touring companies of Balletap USA and DancEllington; a featured dancer at the Chinese New Year Celebration, Hong Kong Arts Festival, American Billboard Music Awards and in commercials for Honda Motorcycles, Sapporo Beer, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. Choreography experience spans dance competitions, musical theatre, television, cruise ships & Super Bowl XXXII Halftime Show. She is listed in Who’s Who in Dance; has been awarded the American Dance Achievement Award; Wilmington Theatre Awards and numerous awards for Best Choreography. After retiring as featured showgirl in Spellbound Las Vegas, Tina joined MGM- Mirage Corporation as Director of VIP Marketing & Sales for Nightclubs & Entertainment. Since moving to Wilmington, she has served as a grant panelist with the South Arts Organization, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, supporting artists and organizations throughout nine southern states & co-chaired the grants committee for the Landfall Foundation. In support of the local youth theatre community, she created more than 30 Teacher Resource Guides and Lesson Plans for musicals and plays aligned with The National Standards for Arts Education, Essential / Common Core Standards and has served on the Board of Trustees for Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Thalian Association Community Theatre and as Executive Producer for Opera House Theatre Company. Recently she celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Radio City Rockettes in NYC, as a Legacy Rockette.
Once a Hi-Stepper, Always a Hi-Stepper
Former Members
Karen Anderson
Rose Baker
Carol Bigwood
Sharon Binis
Pamela Brown
Nancy Bueschen
Carrie Casey
Nancy Faye Craig
Annette Crumpton
Christy DeFrance
Teri Dixon
Vicki Dunkerley
Phyllis Edgerton
Sandy Ettinger
Diane Evers
Elena Geonie
Helen Hawley
Shirley Heusel
Cynthia Johnson
Judy Kelley
Dianne Kishpaugh
Margaret Lutkoski
Denyse McDonnell
Pam McLendon
Juliana Morgan
Lesly Miller
Suzanne Nystrom
Betty Rowe
Pam Sender
Jennifer Terry-Baker
Joanne Townsend
Sandy Wisehart
Fran Worrell
Felice Zeldin